Meeting Minutes / March 12, 2013

March 12, 2013

The following are the minutes of the Brewster Golf Commission meeting held on 3/12/2013 at the Captains Golf Course. The meeting was called to order at 4:00 PM by Cindy Bingham.

Commissioners present:Cindy Bingham, Chairperson

Jim Ehrhart, Vice-Chair

Ed Pavlu

Marc Fontaine

Lori Arnold

Jeff Odell

Staff present:Mark O’Brien, Director of Operations

Steve Mann, Superintendent

Others Present:Rob Harris, Men’s Association

Judy McCarthy, Women’s 18-Hole Assn.

Review of meeting minutes:

Jim Ehrhart made a motion, seconded by Jeff Odell, to approve the minutes of the February 12, 2013 Golf Commission meeting. Motion approved unanimously.

Association Reports:

Judy McCarthy reported that the 18-Hole Women’s Association has lost three members this year and have one new member.

Jeff Odell reported that The Friends of the Captains Golf Course has raised $3,500 so far this year from membership donations. Jeff Odell requested that the Friends be allowed to have a “Guess the Number of Tees in the Bottle” contest in the pro shop with a Western Mass coupon book as the prize in order to raise funds for the Friends. Lori Arnold made a motion to approve this request, seconded by Jim Ehrhart. Motion approved unanimously. Jeff Odell also reported that the Friends will be sponsoring a Mother’s Day brunch.

Marketing:

Mary Stengel from Pierce-Cote, our advertising firm, was in attendance and gave a presentation on our upcoming marketing plan.

Mark O’Brien reported that the Captains was represented at the Boston, Portland Maine, and Hartford, CT golf shows. Also we are planning an open house event on April 27th to promote the course and we are hosting a Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Member-to-Member breakfast on April 10th. Also, our web master has created an optimized web site designed for mobile devices.

Director of Operations Report (Mark O’Brien):

Mark O’Brien reported:

The W.G.A.M. has requested that the Captains host The Allen Bowl in 2014. This is one of their major events, of which we are asked to host one every five years. They are requesting a late May or early June date on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Marc Fontaine made a motion, seconded by Jim Ehrhart to approve the request with the date to be selected by Mark O’Brien. Motion approved unanimously.

The February financials were reviewed.

Request for Charter Non-Resident Membership reinstatement:

Cindy Bingham presented a request from Tom Lee to be reinstated as a Charter non-resident AFP ($1,300 rate). He missed the last 2 years due to several knee replacement surgeries. Mark O’Brien recommended approval. Jim Ehrhart made a motion, seconded by Marc Fontaine to approve this request. Motion approved unanimously.

Review of Membership Exit Survey:

There were 70 total respondents to the survey, 48 residents and 22 non-residents. The results were not surprising. The largest reason stated by the residents was that they did play enough to make it worthwhile (45.5%). The largest reason stated by the non-residents was that the membership was too expensive (65%)

Superintendent’s Report

Steve Mann reported:

·The conditions are very wet. We have received 8.36” of rain in the last two weeks.

·Clean up has been frustrating due to the bad weather in February.

·The 40-week employees will start on Monday.

·We hope to start mowing greens next week.

·Steve attended a seminar on automated spray rig equipment at the Providence Show. Interesting new advances.

·Crane fly activity is starting up again.

·Steve Mann has been named President of the New England Turf Grass Foundation.

Review of BOS meeting:

Mark O’Brien and Cindy Bingham met with the Board of Selectmen on March 4, 2013 to review the FY2014 budget and warrant articles. They seemed positive regarding the budget. They did have some questions regarding the aerification equipment warrant article.

Review of Capital Equipment Improvement Program:

The aerification equipment request was discussed. Mark O’Brien stated that if the Commission felt strongly about reducing this equipment request to one fairway aerifier, one greens aerifier, and one core processor, he would go along with that. Steve Mann stated that he could probably get another year or so out of some of the existing equipment so that we could continue our same aerification program. Marc Fontaine made a motion to amend the aerification equipment warrant article to one fairway aerifier, one greens aerifier, and one core processor. The motion was seconded by Jim Ehrhart. Motion approved unanimously.

The next meeting of the Brewster Golf Commission will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.